Former Otago Daily Times chess columnist Tony Dowden has established himself as the player to beat since moving to Tasmania last year. Last month he convincingly won the Tasmanian Championship held in his new home town of Launceston. Dowden finished 1st on 5½/6 ahead of 2nd Glenn Gibbs (Hobart) 5 and 3rd= Kevin Bonham & Ross George (both Hobart) 4½. He had also won the Launceston Weekender in held earlier in January.
Dowden had returned to the state of his birth to take up a position at the University of Tasmania. But the state is benefitting at least as much from his skill and experience at the chessboard – challenging the local players to develop their game.
Today's game is Tony showing a steady hand as Black in his 5th round win over Philip Donnelly in the Tasmanian Championship, which guaranteed at least equal first. Dowden kindly assisted with the annotations.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Qc7
Less popular than 6…Ne7 in the French Winawer, but a sound alternative nonetheless. 7.Qg4 f5 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qh4?
A new idea but not a good one. 9.Qh3, 9.Qf3 and 9.Qd1(!) have been played previously. 9. --- cxd4 10.Bb5+
10.Qxd4 is not an inspiring alternative 10 --- Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Nxd7 12.Ne2 Qxe5 13.cxd4 Qe4
Keeping things simple. White is forced to swap off into a lost ending. 14.Qxe4 fxe4
Black wants to control the c4 square. 15.Bf4 Rc8 16.Kd2 Ne7!
On e7 the knight eyes both wings. 17.Rab1 Nb6 18.Nc3 Rf8
This exerts unpleasant pressure down the f-file 19.Bg3 Nf5
Threatening both Nxg3 and Nxd4. The activity of Black’s knights has reached fearsome proportions. 20.Rxb6
20.Be5?? loses a piece to 20…Nc4+ 21.Kc1 Nxe5 and 22…Rxc3. In desperation White gives up the exchange but to little avail. 20. --- axb6 21.Nb5 Kd7
21…Nxg3 22 hxg3 Rxf2+ 23 Ke1 Rcxc2 was more forceful, but this move avoids complications. 22.Be5 Nh4
Black wins more material. 23.Bg3 Nxg2 24.Rb1 Rf3 25.Rb3 Rxb3 26.cxb3 g5 27.h3 Rf8
The rook penetrates with deadly effect after 28…Rf3 and 29…e3 0-1
Dowden takes Tasmanian Championship
Problem: White to play and mate in 3.
Former Otago Daily Times chess columnist Tony Dowden has established himself as the player to beat since moving to Tasmania last year. Last month he convincingly won the Tasmanian Championship held in his new home town of Launceston. Dowden finished 1st on 5½/6 ahead of 2nd Glenn Gibbs (Hobart) 5 and 3rd= Kevin Bonham & Ross George (both Hobart) 4½. He had also won the Launceston Weekender in held earlier in January.
Dowden had returned to the state of his birth to take up a position at the University of Tasmania. But the state is benefitting at least as much from his skill and experience at the chessboard – challenging the local players to develop their game.
Today's game is Tony showing a steady hand as Black in his 5th round win over Philip Donnelly in the Tasmanian Championship, which guaranteed at least equal first. Dowden kindly assisted with the annotations.
1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5
3.Nc3 Bb4
4.e5 c5
5.a3 Bxc3
6.bxc3 Qc7
Less popular than 6…Ne7 in the French Winawer, but a sound alternative nonetheless.
7.Qg4 f5
8.Qh5+ g6
9.Qh4?
A new idea but not a good one. 9.Qh3, 9.Qf3 and 9.Qd1(!) have been played previously.
9. --- cxd4
10.Bb5+
10.Qxd4 is not an inspiring alternative
10 --- Bd7
11.Bxd7+ Nxd7
12.Ne2 Qxe5
13.cxd4 Qe4
Keeping things simple. White is forced to swap off into a lost ending.
14.Qxe4 fxe4
Black wants to control the c4 square.
15.Bf4 Rc8
16.Kd2 Ne7!
On e7 the knight eyes both wings.
17.Rab1 Nb6
18.Nc3 Rf8
This exerts unpleasant pressure down the f-file
19.Bg3 Nf5
Threatening both Nxg3 and Nxd4. The activity of Black’s knights has reached fearsome proportions.
20.Rxb6
20.Be5?? loses a piece to 20…Nc4+ 21.Kc1 Nxe5 and 22…Rxc3. In desperation White gives up the exchange but to little avail.
20. --- axb6
21.Nb5 Kd7
21…Nxg3 22 hxg3 Rxf2+ 23 Ke1 Rcxc2 was more forceful, but this move avoids complications.
22.Be5 Nh4
Black wins more material.
23.Bg3 Nxg2
24.Rb1 Rf3
25.Rb3 Rxb3
26.cxb3 g5
27.h3 Rf8
The rook penetrates with deadly effect after 28…Rf3 and 29…e3
0-1
Solution: 1 Qxf8+! Kxf8 2 Bh6+ Kg8 3 Re8#.